Luther Seminary

Making Sense of Scripture

/ The Pastor / 12 Comments

I am tackling a new book.

I usually don’t read much this time of the year but this book looks interesting.  It’s called Making Sense of Scripture by David J. Lose (my preaching professor from Luther Seminary)…and of course it’s from Augsburg Fortress.  I received this FREE copy from the Book of Faith Initiative because I responded to one of their tweets (on Twitter) about the challenges of encouraging people to engage scripture.  I didn’t respond to the tweet to get this book but it just so happened that I came across the tweet during a frustrating time.  Maybe this is God’s response to me.

But as I muddle through this challenge of encouraging people to engage scripture I hear words of hope…

…This past Sunday, as kids were coming up front for the Children’s message, one of my 5 year olds saw me holding the Spark Story Bible (I read the Christmas story out of it for them), which she has at home.  As she came up to sit by me she said “We are almost done reading that”.  I know her parents read that to her every night and she loves it.  Hopefully this becomes a long-term “habit” for her.

Stories like that are encouraging, but they seem few and far between.  Maybe this Making Sense of Scripture book will prove to be a good resource.

I don’t have much to say about the book yet since I just finished reading the Introduction, but hopefully I will have more to report as I read, discover and learn.  My struggle to get people to engage this book of faith is going to be an ongoing one but hopefully I can start to make some in roads very soon (at least it looks like I have with one 5 year old).

-edh-

Resource for preaching in difficult times

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

There has been much discussion about the ELCA vote last week at its Churchwide assembly.  And no doubt that many pastors wondered how to handle this at their respective congregations this past Sunday.  I know that I number of us dealt with the issues at hand and a number that choose not too.  Whatever you did in your congregation I trust that you are doing what you feel is best for your particular congregation.

Following is an article I came across by Dr. David Lose, the Marbury E. Anderson Biblical Preacher Chair at Luther Seminary (and the prof I had for my senior preaching class).  Dr. Lose posted this article on http://www.workingpreacher.org — a sermon prep website.  The article is titled Preaching Amid Controversy: Pastoral and Homiletical Counsel. I found this to be a very helpful article and a great reminder what we are called to do.  The article specifically mentions the ELCA Churchwide assembly, but it provides some wisdom for any difficult/trying situation in our congregation’s life.

I invite you to check this out and offer your comments.

As a pastor/preacher did you deal with the ELCA vote in your sermon this past Sunday?  Do you find Dr. Lose’s counsel helpful?

-edh-